The Music and Dramatic Arts College Council launched a letter-writing campaign last week in a grassroots attempt to voice opinions about the cuts in funding to higher education.
The campaign, which began Oct. 18, started when students recognized the need to take action against the crisis, Carly Zimmerman, MDA College Council president and music senior.
Zimmerman said the council tried to come up with an idea that would be most convenient for students.
“We know the students are all so busy,” Zimmerman said. “So, we thought if we could give them everything they need, it would be successful.”
The council set up a table in the lobbies of the School of Music and the Music and Dramatic Arts Building complete with paper, pens and envelopes for students to use.
“They could write a letter and after put a Post-it note on it with their ZIP code,” she said. “The executive office of Student Government would then address, stamp and send them off.”
Zimmerman said the campaign, which ended Tuesday, collected about 35 letters total.
Zimmerman said this method allowed students to contact the representatives from their hometowns, not just those in Baton Rouge. If students are not from Louisiana, letters will be sent to the Capitol.
The University’s faculty made similar efforts earlier this month when the Faculty Senate initiated a faculty letter-writing campaign. The campaign asked each staff member to write two letters to extend the range of communication.
“Attention on the crisis of higher education is focused on cities in which the universities are located,” said Faculty Senate President Kevin Cope. “But people live and have connections in all parts.”
Cope said it is important that letters are sent in bulk, as the Legislature is responsive to quantity.
Zimmerman said the council wants “everyone on board so everyone can value higher education as one.”
Student Government President J Hudson commended the council for its efforts and said it has done an “excellent job.”
“I think it’s fantastic that College Council is doing a college-specific means of contacting legislators,” Hudson said. “I’m proud they have taken the initiative to have the voice of their college heard.”
Hudson said MDA is one of the first college councils to launch a campaign like this, but students can expect to see similar efforts from SG in the future.
Zimmerman also said MDA will organize another letter-writing campaign in the spring, but dates have not been finalized.
“It’s easy to say that big universities are gobbling up money from the state, but it is a big portion for good reason,” Zimmerman said. “We are a vital part of Louisiana and a vital part of the economy.”
Zimmerman said she hopes to express this opinion to the decision-makers downtown.
“We want to let them know our personal stories so they know how they are affecting us,” Zimmerman said. “We feel like we aren’t valuable.”
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Contact Sydni Dunn at [email protected]